Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints forms new local ward

Last edited 1:38 p.m., March 13, 2025 [Editor's note: Membership numbers have been added for local wards.]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is expanding locally through the planned development of a temple near the border of Springfield and Ozark, has added a new ward to support members in the area.

The Fremont Hills Ward was formed as a new congregation of the church on March 9, according to a news release. Its membership comprises people from Nixa and Ozark.

“I am thrilled to witness the steady growth of our faith community in southwest Missouri. Our members are finding strength and purpose in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and this expansion reflects their dedication to living his teachings and serving one another,” said Tim Scott, who oversees 13 congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ, in the release. “To accommodate this growth, we are focused on fostering a welcoming environment where all can worship, learn, and grow together. This includes strengthening our local congregations, expanding opportunities for service, and ensuring our facilities meet the needs of our members.”

Longtime Nixa resident Peter Miller has been selected as bishop of the Fremont Hills Ward, with support from counselors Navaar Brown, of Ozark, and Bryan Noorda, of Nixa. The congregation meets on Sundays at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints facility at 1309 N. 20th St. in Ozark.

The Fremont Hills Ward has 392 members, said church spokesperson Sarah Saucedo-Carey, noting membership was 488 in Nixa and 545 in Ozark before the creation of the new congregation.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in December unveiled the first rendering of its planned temple at 2720 E. Farm Road 188, located south of James River Freeway and west of U.S. Route 65, near Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Springfield. Plans for the 29,000-square-foot temple were announced last summer. Members of the Latter-day Saints faith must travel to temples for certain religious practices, but currently, the closest temple to Springfield is the one dedicated in September 2023 in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The church has said that some 10,000 members live in the Springfield metro area.